Stage 16: Ponte Di Legno-Val Martello/Martelltal (139 km)

[Eshnar]

Officially set to ride Galvia and Stelvio tomorrow barring condition changes =)

Yep. Stage confirmed now it's up to the riders

 

[qwerty16]

if stage 14/15 was any sign, then pauwels/poels/brambilla are not enough to keep uran in the front. I like OPQS, but this team is not enough. If there was not many crashes, then uran would have lost pink by now.

In stage 14 Poels was stronger than Uran.

Out of the top 5 Quintana barely has any support, Aru even less. Rogers was decent yesterday, but on other stages Poels was stronger. Evans can count on Morabito and Sanchez seems to be improving somewhat.

So he has the second best support out of the top 5. All the other leaders have no support (Kelderman, Rolland, Hesjedal, Basso, Pellizotti) or little support (Kiserlovski), with only Pozzovivo having support of about the same level as OPQS.

 

[timvankemenade]

This is such an epic stage. The Gavia and the Stelvio in ONE stage, unbelievable!
I can not imagine a better promotion for our lovely sport.
Lets make cycling TRULY global.

GIRO STAGE 16 MUST CONTINUE:
https://www.facebook.com/cyclingisheroic

 

[Libertine Seguros]

In stage 14 Poels was stronger than Uran.

Out of the top 5 Quintana barely has any support, Aru even less. Rogers was decent yesterday, but on other stages Poels was stronger. Evans can count on Morabito and Sanchez seems to be improving somewhat.

So he has the second best support out of the top 5. All the other leaders have no support (Kelderman, Rolland, Hesjedal, Basso, Pellizotti) or little support (Kiserlovski), with only Pozzovivo having support of about the same level as OPQS.

José Herrada is higher up the GC than Samu Sánchez so he's been decent. Movistar have missed the break the last two days so I feel pretty sure they'll try to put somebody strong into it tomorrow. Herrada would force OPQS to chase hard, somebody like Szmyd or Antón could help Quintana on the climb at the end as although they've been a long way from what they can be so far, if they target something and coming on from the rest day, they're far enough down to get allowed away.

And I still remember Igor killing everybody three years ago on the Zoncolán and it makes me sad remembering what he once was.

 

[Orbit501]

i think tinkof shud stop meddling with breaks and carry full force with majka. without CAS, they are one power-house short,

That's a very good point, CAS abandon does leave Majka a bit vulnerable with a lot of reliance on Rogers.

I suppose Roche is put in the break to see how things develop. Go for the stage win if things look good for the break, if not then he's up the road nicely for Majka anyway. Saturday went all wrong because Roche panicked when a chase group got organised behind and he attacked far too early and in the wrong place anyway.

 

[Afrank]

Yep. Stage confirmed now it's up to the riders

YES!!! Hope conditions stay good and they are able to race in full.

Reading through this thread my reactions went from *****! at seeing the weather report, to hopeful at seeing the roads were as of now in good condition, to happy that it looks like a good chance it will be run in full. I'm not religious in any way (the opposite in fact) but I'll be praying conditions stay good and roads race-able.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Yep. Stage confirmed now it's up to the riders

Ok, good sign. Fingers crossed...
If they go the route, it´s all up to Rolland. If he attacks early, the peloton can´t softpedal, otherwise Rolland would make up at least 3 mins and being right in contention too....

Thanks god no Cancellara and Schlecks are here. Those cry babies would certainly organize another strike...

As Hitch said, this Giro could become a great one...

 

[barmaher]

That's a very good point, CAS abandon does leave Majka a bit vulnerable with a lot of reliance on Rogers.

I suppose Roche is put in the break to see how things develop. Go for the stage win if things look good for the break, if not then he's up the road nicely for Majka anyway. Saturday went all wrong because Roche panicked when a chase group got organised behind and he attacked far too early and in the wrong place anyway.

Spot on about Roche panicking. He does make some very poor decisions sometimes.

There is not much point in TCS putting a man up the road, as the only way that can seriously be utilised is with an attack on the Cima Coppi. Which is not going to happen with Majka.

Best bet they have is for Rodgers and Roche to work as much as they can for Majka, and hope that he is strong enough in the last 5km to put some time into his rivals. Not Hollywood, I know, but this is 2014 cycling.

 

[Der Effe]

This is such an epic stage. The Gavia and the Stelvio in ONE stage, unbelievable!
I can not imagine a better promotion for our lovely sport.
Lets make cycling TRULY global.

GIRO STAGE 16 MUST CONTINUE:
https://www.facebook.com/cyclingisheroic

And the cyclists must pay the price for that?

 

[qwerty16]

José Herrada is higher up the GC than Samu Sánchez so he's been decent. Movistar have missed the break the last two days so I feel pretty sure they'll try to put somebody strong into it tomorrow. Herrada would force OPQS to chase hard, somebody like Szmyd or Antón could help Quintana on the climb at the end as although they've been a long way from what they can be so far, if they target something and coming on from the rest day, they're far enough down to get allowed away.

And I still remember Igor killing everybody three years ago on the Zoncolán and it makes me sad remembering what he once was.

Herrada has done near to nothing as far as we have seen, while Sanchez has done some decent pulling, although he is clearly outdomestiqued by Morabito. Herrada being higher up in the GC just means Sanchez has taken it easy to the finish once his job was done. Like the whole team of Movistar (even including Quintana one could say) Herrada has been underwhelming and nearly invisible.

Also can't see why Herrada in the break would force OPQS to chase hard? Other teams like Cannondale, Garmin, Europcar et all will start to chase because their coveted top 10 place is in danger.

Szmyd isn't in this race and all Anton has done so far is hanging on to the bunch until blowing up, having doing absolutely nothing to help Quintana, besides probably handing him a bottle or two.

 

[Eclipse]

Saturday went all wrong because Roche panicked when a chase group got organised behind and he attacked far too early and in the wrong place anyway.

His DS told him to attack if the rest of the breakaway weren't really working hard

'With about 45km to go, near the top of the penultimate climb, our gap had dropped considerably due to attacks from the peloton and my directeur sportif Lars Michaelsen came over the radio in my earpiece.

"Nico, there is a 20km descent before the last climb. If you see the opportunity, if the guys aren't working hard enough, give it a shot."'

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...a-diary-stage-14-aglie-to-oropa-30304268.html

^ his diary thing is pretty good by the way. He does touch on the should he/shouldn't he aspect of his attack.

I expect he'll look to get in more breaks since it sounds like he fancies a stage win, and they can always use him as support for Majka if the GC guys are chasing up behind.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yep. Stage confirmed now it's up to the riders

Of course, whether the helicopters can fly, or we end up with a static camera shot of the final km, is another matter..............

 

[Orbit501]

His DS told him to attack if the rest of the breakaway weren't really working hard

'With about 45km to go, near the top of the penultimate climb, our gap had dropped considerably due to attacks from the peloton and my directeur sportif Lars Michaelsen came over the radio in my earpiece.

"Nico, there is a 20km descent before the last climb. If you see the opportunity, if the guys aren't working hard enough, give it a shot."'

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...a-diary-stage-14-aglie-to-oropa-30304268.html

^ his diary thing is pretty good by the way. He does touch on the should he/shouldn't he aspect of his attack.

I expect he'll look to get in more breaks since it sounds like he fancies a stage win, and they can always use him as support for Majka if the GC guys are chasing up behind.

Yep, read his diary occasionally and know from reading his autobiography that he enjoys doing it and is pretty open and honest in what he writes.

He really does seem to have a problem in deciding exactly what sort of rider he should be, or should I say is capable of being. A shame, but perhaps GT stage hunter is the best he can hope for now, although I was very happy for him with his GC efforts in last years Vuelta.

 

[SafeBet]

Of course, whether the helicopters can fly, or we end up with a static camera shot of the final km, is another matter..............

Radio broadcasting is the new cool

 

[The Hitch]

This is such an epic stage. The Gavia and the Stelvio in ONE stage, unbelievable!
I can not imagine a better promotion for our lovely sport.
Lets make cycling TRULY global.

GIRO STAGE 16 MUST CONTINUE:
https://www.facebook.com/cyclingisheroic

Wait, why is this stage also a tribute to Pantani now?

 

[ILovecycling]

Now it's sunny on the course. Chances increasing.

Tbh, I hope they do the stage so the riders will take the blame when they'll softpedal Gavia and Stelvio complaining about the cold/altitude/hairpins/asphalt...

This,but this ----→

Of course, whether the helicopters can fly, or we end up with a static camera shot of the final km, is another matter..............

Radio broadcasting is the new cool

is there going to be one?

 

[Eshnar]

Of course, whether the helicopters can fly, or we end up with a static camera shot of the final km, is another matter..............

oh wut, you guys also wanted to see it live?

Let me anticipate it: ice on the broadcast plane's wings. No pictures before Prato.

 

[Eshnar]

And the cyclists must pay the price for that?

what price? Today there were quite a few amateurs up the Stelvio. We aren't talking about 20 cm of snow and -20 °C. Ofc if we were, there's no way the stage has to be raced.

 

[SafeBet]

is there going to be one?

RAI did some of it last year during the Jagfferau stage.
I could do something with Google Hangout

 

[icefire]

Wait, why is this stage also a tribute to Pantani now?

He climbed Stelvio in 1994 Giro, though it was climbed from Prato and it was the first climb in the stage. Then came Mortirolo, Aprica and Santa Cristina where he dropped Big Mig and Berzin after a brutal attack.

 

[Der Effe]

what price? Today there were quite a few amateurs up the Stelvio. We aren't talking about 20 cm of snow and -20 °C. Ofc if we were, there's no way the stage has to be raced.

I didn't mean to say tomorrow's stage should be cancelled but that facebook page gave me the impression tomorrow's stage should be raced no matter what, because it's an heroic one.

 

[Red Rick]

I hope someone crashes on the first switchback of the Gavia descent if that means we get a rider-shaped hole in the wall of snow, like in those cartoons

 

[Butterhead]

I hope someone crashes on the first switchback of the Gavia descent if that means we get a rider-shaped hole in the wall of snow, like in those cartoons

So whos the coyote and whos road runner?

 

[Arnout]

RAI did some of it last year during the Jagfferau stage.
I could do something with Google Hangout

We should organize fan commentary sometime, would be awesome.

 

[jens_attacks]

He climbed Stelvio in 1994 Giro, though it was climbed from Prato and it was the first climb in the stage. Then came Mortirolo, Aprica and Santa Cristina where he dropped Big Mig and Berzin after a brutal attack.

let's hope they won't race on stelvio like they did back then lol. they almost stopped, around 10 kmph.
good news if the weather stays like that. but if we can't see anything...it will almost not matter. we'll see tomorrow. weather can change from hour to hour